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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Lowther Driver
Post Subject: "Yellow"ness of LowtherPosted by yoshi on: 8/19/2007
Romy dropped by yesterday. He goddamn demonstrated how "yellow" and compressed the Lowther (Reps-1, in my case) is, using my system, by simply playing other channels and the Lowther channal separately (mine is a 4way multi-amp set up, so it's very easy to do). I never tried to evaluate the sound by listening each channels separately because, (1) I never trusted my ear to be able to do that, (2) I had a certain fixation on Lowther (my system actually evolved around the Reps driver). In my system, Reps-1 covers 200~1000 in 3 cu/ft box, below 200 is JBL 2220 in an aperiodic cabinet, above 1000 is JBL 2450 with Edger tractrix (1000~10,000) and Pioneer RT-8T (10,000~), all with 12db slope.
While the combined 3 other channels breath more naturally with ups and downs of the dymanics of the music, the Reps channel is severely compressed with honky coloration. I'd been aware of some compression but always attributed it to the room (12' x 18') and the limited flexibility of the setting (I can only set it on the short wall end). I was never concsiously aware of the coloration although some feeling of strange warmth always lingered around. It's like the combined other channels play in 30db dynamic range with more natural tone (though monochromic withoud the mid range), while Reps operates within 5db with coloration of old sepia photograph!
My system had evolved to overcome the obvious shortcomings of the Reps driver, to eliminate the peak and the confused bottom end of the backloard horn cabinet, in short. Now, it ended up like peeling an onion (nothing left at the core)! Boo!!Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site